Fasteitiitg- for harness-hames



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOMER COMPTON, OF IVELLS CORNER, PENNSYLVANIA.

FASTENING- FOR HARNESS-EAMES.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To cLZZ whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, HOMER COMPTON, of Wells Corner, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Fastening for Securing Hames on Collars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descript-ion of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichi Figure l, is a front view of a pair of hames, the lower end of one of the hames being bisected longitudinally in order to show my improvement. Fig. 2, is a transverse section of one of the hames, :0, Fig. 1, showing the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding` parts in the two figures.

This invention consists in the combination of a spring bolt, a catch plate, and a spring slide plate with the hame, for the purpose of aording greater convenience and rapidity in clamping and unclamping the hame.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A, A, represent a pair of hames of the usual form and connected at their upper ends by a strap a, in the ordinary manner. The lower ends of the hames are also connected by a strap b, which passes through an eye c, attached permanently to the lower end of the hame A, said strap also passing through an eye cZ, which is attached to the outer end of a plate e. The lower end of the hame A has a recess f, made in it longitudinally to receive the plate e. A hole is made through the plate e, and a hole is also made transversely through the hame to allow a bolt h to pass through said bolt securing the plate in the hame. The lower part of the hame A', has a metal plate Q', attached to it, said plate passing around the end of the hame, and being secured to its outer and inner side as plainly shown in Fig. l. The bolt ZL, is attached to the end of a spring y', which is secured to the outer side of the hame A. I denominate bolt (ZL) a spring bolt. Its spring keeps the bolt h, within the hame A. A ring Z6, is attached to the outer end of the spring j. In the back part of the recess f, a spiral spring Z, is placed and a plate m, is also litted in said recess, said plate bearing against the spring Z. I denominate the plate m a spring plate, because it is moved forward by the spiral 16,580, dated February 8, 1857.

spring Z. IVhen the plate c, is shoved into the recess f, the plate m, is forced back and the spring Z, compressed. But when the bolt Zz., is withdrawn from the hame A, the spring Z, will force the plate my, against the plate c, the latter plate passing out of the ment may be applied to the hames at a small cost.

The great advantage, convenience, and utility of my improvement will be obvious. It does not in any manner interfere with the ordinary and accustomed uses and operations of the haine. It presents a much more convenient and rapid method of clamping and unclamping the hame.

It is notorious that the most difficult strap to buckle and unbuckle which is employed in a harness, is the hame-strap. Owing to the constant bending and handling to which it is exposed, as commonly employed, it is the first strap to wear out and break. Accidents, often involving a loss of life, or serious personal injury, frequently ensue from the breaking of the hame-strap.

By the use of my improvement, the hamestrap does not require to be unbuckled at all, and may remain in place, forming, as it were, a permanent portion of the harness. Instead of unbuckling the hame-strap, the spring is simply lifted by the linger, whereupon the catch-plate (e) is discharged, and the hame is unclamped.

In putting the harness upon the horse, it is only necessary to place the hame upon the collar, and pass the plate (e) into its aperture, when the bolt (ZL) will fall into the hole in plate (e), and the hame will be securely clamped and fastened. The parts required to effect the clamping and unclamping of the hame are durable, being of'metal. The strap heretofore used being allowed to remain at rest, is rendered far more safe and durable than before.

I am aware that spring plates, catch rejected applications for patents of B. Joslin, V. Mitchell, and J. McCallum;- neither do I claim the indiscriminate fastening together or coupling of objects by means of spring bolts, spring plates, and catch plates g-neither do I claim the substitution of such devices for straps and buckles in harnesses g-but the combination with the haine of a spring bolt, a catch plate, and a spring plate, as herein described, is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a new combination; and therefore, limiting myself to this special combination,

and disclaiming all parts of my improved haine that are seen in any other hame,-

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with a harness haine, A, of a spring bolt (h), a catch plate (c), and a spring plate (m), substantially as herein set forth.

HOMER COMPTON.

litnessos EDWIN N. EASTON, ORviLLn ENSIGN. 

